March 18, 2013 Events

March 18-24, 2013

Please continue reading for events related to Africa, leadership, and peacebuilding occurring throughout Washington D.C.

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013
The Social Dimensions of Resilience
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Summary: From the Haitian earthquake to Superstorm Sandy, recent years have presented many teachable moments about the need for greater resilience in the face of disaster. To date, much of the conversation on resilience has focused on making infrastructure more robust, for example, building seawalls to protect against storm surges. But resilience has social dimensions that are at least as important. Social factors largely determine the extent to which people and communities respond to and recover from changes in the environment, whether gradual (such as climate change) or more abrupt (such as hurricanes). This panel will explore the social dimensions of resilience, including the role of equity--especially gender equity--and inclusive governance. Panelists will present research and initiatives that link reproductive health to climate adaptation, and showcase current projects in Malawi, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the Caribbean that take a holistic approach to cultivating resilience.
For more information, please visit:http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-social-dimensions-resilience

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013
Environmental Film Festival: PHE in Tanzania & International Peace Parks
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Summary: The Environmental Change and Security Program is proud to announce the international premiere of its film, Healthy People, Healthy Environment: Integrated Development in Tanzania (10 min.), at this year's Environmental Film Festival. Sean Peoples and Michael T. Miller traveled to the northern coast of Tanzania to explore innovative integrated development efforts known as population, health and environment (PHE) projects. In the film, three women Rukia, Mahija, and Fidea from the Pangani and Bagamoyo districts demonstrate how they are improving their health, their environment, and their community via interventions such as clean cook stoves, sustainable seaweed farming, and better access to reproductive health services.

Also playing is the second episode in the environmental peacebuilding series by Todd Walters and Cory Wilson, Transcending Boundaries: Perspectives from the Central Albertine Rift Transfrontier Protected Area Network (24 min.). Following a look at Waterton-Glacier Park at last year's festival, the film explores the Central Albertine Rift, situated between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, one of East Africa's most complex and unstable areas. The film explores geographic, socio-political, and ecological issues with a diverse range of stakeholders who are critical to conservation within this biodiversity hotspot. It also discusses the impact of insecurity in the region and ongoing collaboration for trans-boundary environmental conservation.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:www.wilsoncenter.org/event/environmental-film-festival-phe-tanzania-international-peace-parks

"Warm Period" (Warmzeit)
Hosted by: Goethe Institute
Location: Goethe Institute
812 Seventh Street, NW Washington, DC
Time: 6:00pm
Summary: Germany, 2012, 80 min, Director: Knut Karger

Connecting people in different places of this world whose everyday lives are affected by global warming, this film portrays individuals, as well as scientists and engineers of alternative energy technologies from Greenland to Namibia, who are experiencing the impact of climate change. In Africa, a mere two degrees of warming are going to destroy the foundation of people's lives, whereas in Greenland, farmers can grow vegetables in areas where just decades ago, the ground was permanently frozen.

Major contributors to global climate change are the industrialized Western countries and the CO2 emissions they produce. Human actions have become a decisive global parameter and the film underscores that if we don't reconsider our choices, we are going to change the very face of the planet.
For more information, please visit:http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/ver/en10524287v.htm

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013
The Struggle for Democracy in Tunisia
Hosted by: U.S. Institute of Peace
Location: Johns Hopkins SAIS - Nitze Building, Kenney Auditorium
1740 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Time: 2:30pm - 5:00pm
Summary: Tunisia's 2010-11 'Jasmine Revolution' ignited a flame of political rebellion that quickly spread to Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, and Syria. But as the 'Arab Spring' enters its third season, Tunisia's struggle for democracy is beset by escalating ideological and even violent conflicts. What are the key challenges facing Tunisia? How can U.S. officials and nongovernmental organizations help Tunisians address mounting domestic and regional crises?

To discuss these and other questions, the United States Institute of Peace, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) are pleased to invite you to a public round-table featuring a delegation of prominent Tunisian political scientists on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 2:30pm to 5:00pm at SAIS. Members of the delegation will offer their perspectives on the situation and then participate in a frank question-and-answer session. We hope that you will be able to join us for this very special event.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:http://www.usip.org/events/the-struggle-democracy-in-tunisia

Nigeria: Legislative Oversight and Accountability in Natural Resource Management and Other Areas
Hosted by: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Location: National Democratic Institute
8th Floor, 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Time: 3:30pm
Summary: There is increasing international focus on the role of legislatures in promoting government accountability. Nigeria is the world's 8th larger exporter of petroleum which makes up nearly 40% of its GDP and 80% of government revenue. Despite this natural resource wealth, Nigeria faces significant political and developmental challenges, including infrastructure development, anti-corruption, and service delivery. Speakers will discuss efforts to instill greater transparency and accountability in the management of the country's resources and the role of the Nigerian National Assembly in this process.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:http://csis.org/event/nigeria-legislative-oversight-and-accountability-natural-resource-management-and-other-areas

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
Toward a Strategic Framework for Mali and the Sahel: A Conversation with Ambassador Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah
Hosted by: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies
4th Floor Conference Room, 1800 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Summary: Please join the CSIS Africa Program for a conversation with Ambassador Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Director of the Center for Strategies and Security in the Sahel-Sahara (Centre4S). Ambassador Ould-Abdallah will discuss the ongoing political and security situation in Mali and the underlying strategic dynamics in the Sahel. Ambassador Ould-Abdallah was the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania, and former United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa. Under his leadership, Centre4S is working to build consensus around a strategic diplomatic, security, and economic vision for the Sahel involving broader West Africa and the Maghreb.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:http://csis.org/event/toward-strategic-framework-mali-and-sahel

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
Mapping Egyptian Politics: Where is Egypt Heading and What Does That Mean for the United States?
Hosted by: RAND Corporation
Location: Rayburn House Office Building
45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C., 20515
Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm
Summary: Despite widespread unrest, continued wrangling over the election law, and threats of an opposition boycott, Egypt is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in the coming months. Egypt's transition has already been punctuated by a series of Islamist victories at the polls. In this session, three Egypt watchers will take a closer look at what past electoral performance and the current political context say about the Islamists' strength in Egypt and what it means for the United States.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:http://www.rand.org/events/2013/03/22.html